Hostile hogs

[Nemo]

We live out in the country in a small village. Our garden is a wildlife garden with three small water features so we get a lot of visitors.

Occasionally we put out a trail camera to see what is going on. For years we have filmed hedgehogs, sometime three or four together. For the last three night we have put food out for the hedgehogs. We have seen just two hedgehogs who always end up fighting, pushing each other around. Not sure if they are the same two, but can't remember seeing them fight like this before.

Anyone any ideas of why this is happening?

[Imbiber]

I have read that they fight over food.

[Breelander]

We live out in the country in a small village. Our garden is a wildlife garden with three small water features so we get a lot of visitors.

Occasionally we put out a trail camera to see what is going on. For years we have filmed hedgehogs, sometime three or four together. For the last three night we have put food out for the hedgehogs. We have seen just two hedgehogs who always end up fighting, pushing each other around. Not sure if they are the same two, but can't remember seeing them fight like this before.

Anyone any ideas of why this is happening?

It's the start of the mating season.....

The male hog finds a female and starts to circle round her. She will give him the cold shoulder, turning her side to him so he can’t approach. Whilst at the same time putting him off with plenty of grunting and snorting noises.

All this noise quite often attracts the attention of other males who may then approach to try their luck. If this happens the two males will have a bit of a tussle, head butting and jostling each other. Sometimes one or other wins and goes back to the female.

Other times the female gets bored and wanders off, leaving the males to it!

https://homeandroost.co.uk/blog/hedgehog-babies/

[bungeejumper]

Anyone any ideas of why this is happening?

It's the start of the mating season.....

Aye, that's all it is. Mating begins in April but climaxes in May and June.

We're also rural, but we don't see so many hedgehogs these days. In fact we'd hardly even know they were there if it weren't for their droppings on the lawn. (Black and thick as a finger.) In the days when we had cats, they'd hear the hedgehogs' noise in the borders and thunder off in pursuit, only to return with a sulky look that said "dammit, another armed convoy".


BJ